Apparatus for continuously thickening mixtures



A. L. GENTER.

APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY THICKENING MIXTURES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3o. I9I9.

1 ,359 ,1 62. Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

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A. L. GENTER.

APPARATUS FOR coNTiNUousLY THICKENING MIXTURES.

APPLICATION 'FILED APR. 30- |919.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT LEGRAND GENTER, F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 GENERAL ENGINEERING ooMPANY, or or UTAH. i

ySAI/l" LAKE CITY, UTAH, A CORPORATION APPARATUS Fon CONTINUoUs'LY THICK'ENING MIXTUEES.

Application led April 30,

T 0 all lw L-om -z't may cof/zeewi- Be it known that I, ALBERT L. GENTER, a citizen of the United States, residin at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt ake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forl Continuously Thickening Mixtures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful apparatus for thickening slimes or other mixtures and wherein an open tank or cony tainer is employed in connection with a series of suction filter elements which are designed to be submeiged in the liquid contentsr of the tank. The present invention involves the apparatus shown and described in my co )ending application, filed March 3, 1919, erial Number 280,299, and the present invention consists of the parts, and constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts, as I will hereinafter describe and claim.

The construction of apparatus I employ in carryingout my invention is such that the overflow rim common to decantation tank thickeners is eliminated and the filtrate is withdrawn from the elements by a vacuum means on the one hand and a counter current cleansing action is applied to the vinterior of said elements in suchxa manner that during the process of filtrationd1f ferent series of these elements are being cleansed while the balance are filtering in the 4same tank. The entire operation takes place during submergence inthe saine tank and the sediment discharged from the elements, during submergence vby the counter current cleansing action substantially as outlined. inmyv previous Patent No. 1,263,226, dated April 16, 1918, and iii-a prior application, Serial Number 218,140, filed by me February 19, 1918, jointly with George C. Jones, settles to the bottom of the common container or tank and is removed therefrom by any suitable mechanical means.

In theaforesaid prior patent and prior joint application, means have been shown for cleansing the filter medium during subiiiergence in a pressure chamber by the action of alternately directing in any desired succession the filter current against one side of said medium and a cleansing filtrate current against the opposite side of said medium. Although my present means of Specification of Letters Patent.

1919. lSerial No. 293,774.

cleansing the medium n situ is broadly and substantially the same'as in the patent and Joint application referred to, attention is called to the fact that my present invention results in a very important improvement on the aforesaid prior inventions, for it Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

permits cleansing one or' more filter elements in the common tank while filtration is progressing in a portion or the balance of the elements. Thus a really uninterrupted continuous filtration and thickening of the unfiltered mixture in one tank results. This cleansing of one or more elements while filtering in the balance of the elements in the same tank is impossible in my prior Patent Number 1,263,226, because the positive pressure must be released on all elements in said pressure tank at the time the cleansing action'takes place. Hence by empio ing the pressure agency specified in said atent Number 1,263,226, and said prior application, Serial Number 218,140, a series or battery of pressure tanks must be used to obtain a continuous filtrate flow" while the balance are filtering in one and the same reservoir.

I am aware of the fact that continuous vacuum filters exist, which operate in tanks or containers, but I again call attention to the fact that all of these filters remove the filter medium or portions thereof from the unfiltered mixture, during this continuous operation, in'order to cleanse the medi-ums f byremoving the filter cake made up ofl solids-and moisture. In my present invention, however, the filter medium is kept submerged during the continuousl filtration and cleansing .of the lter medi-ums. elements are removed from submergence only in cases whererepairs such as recovering of same with new filter mediums, etc are necessary. l

The present arrangement also aims at doing away with the expensive large decantation tanks and their peripheral overflow for the decanted liquid. In the present instance, I substitute a series of filter elements similar to those described in my said prior patent in place of the peripheral overflow in the common decantation tank and em- The cases upon the readiness with which the solids in such decantatioii tanks settle to the bottom and in my present invention this clearness depends upon the filter medium employed and the amount of filtrate dcmay be carried out.

pends primarily upon the amount of' filter area installed. My invention will also produce, when installed in the ordinary decantation tank, a much greater volume of clear liquid as well as a greater quantity ofthickened discharge.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, I illustrate several forms of apparatus by which my invention The invention is not, however, restricted to these or to any particular form of apparatus, as it is obvious -tliat I may resort to a variety of mechanical constructions and arrangements of' parts,

which may produce the results hereinafterreferred to.

Figure l is a sectional view and part elevation of an entire equipment of elements, tank, discharge mechanism, central distributing valve and vacuum system.

Fig. 2 is the horizontal section on the `line 2-2 of Fig. 3, showing the distributing valve'for filtrate and counter current cleansing means. t

`F ig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2. y

Fig. 4 shows details of several filter elements with filtrate chambers, and associated parts.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the connection for the filter elements of Fig. 4.

Fig.`6 is a sectional elevation of an alternative means of rotating the elements in the unfiltered mixture as well as rotating the discharge mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of Fig. l with certain of the filter elements omitted and may also be substantially a plan view of Fig. 6.

Referring to the type of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, the unfiltered and unthick- I ened material fiows into the open tank, C,

through the launder or pipe a; the continuous 4feed can be here regulated in any suitable manner. Located in the tank, C, are groups of filter' elements, I), attached by Silitable quick-clamping means, d e, (Fig. 4) to appropriate filtrate pipes f and f.A The filter elements are tubular and, preferably, are made of any rigid porous material, a (Fig. 4), and each element has a hollow interior ending a nipple. c, and is incased in a suitable bag or covering b of filter medium, which may be held in place by a cord or cleansing action.

n cover the same.

by a worm-gear, o, and worm. o', which in other winding, b. These windings, if desired, may continue over the entire lengthy of the filter corering in its place around the c, which clamp a cross bar d over suitable pipes oi' f', and compress the nipples, d, which are formed on the pipes f and f', to the nipples, r, on the filter elements, thus firmly holding the parts leak-proof` in place..

The cross filtrate pipes, f and f, end in a common pipe or cylinder g, the purpose of whichcylinder or enlarged pipe being to store a surplus amount of filtrate to be used during the blow back or counter current cleansing action, thus offering sufficient surplus to Vprevent the other additional pressure means, such as air or steam, from reaching the interior of the'filter bags during thel It hasv counter-current cleansing action. been found in practice that sediment will be discharged better from such elements by means of a current of filtrate while the elements are submerged than if compressed air or steam passed through the ports of the filter elements during counter current Referring to Figs. seen that the filtrate chambers orv cylinders, are attached to a common filtrate collecting piece or chamber, j. There will be as many filtrate chambers, g, and connections to the collecting chamber, j, as thereare nests or groups of filtrate pipes, f, f. This will be varied according to the size of the tank and other elements entering into economical designs of such an apparatus.V The filtrate passes from the collecting chamber, g, to the -center collectinc` piece or chamber, y', through the ports, z'. htating with a leakproof bearing surface `against lthe upper surface of the center piece, y', is a distributing housing or timing piece, k, having a hub projection, m, and a port or passage t'. It will thus be apparent that if this upper portion (Figs. 2 and 3) revolves against the companion lower portion, j, for instance in a clock-wise direction, that the port, i', will come directly over the upper ends of the ports, i, one after another in rotation, thuscutting off these ports fromtheir common connectiomwitli the balance of ports, i, and the vacuum filtrate outlet, Z. It will also be noticed that the ported projection, mf, and port, 2T', rotate past the open vacuum filtrate collecting pipe, Z, but do not completely The rotation is occasioned its turn is driven by any desired mechanical force.

The vacuum collecting port, Z, in the collecting piecej, is connected to a' delivery pipe, l', which in Figs. 1, 6 and 7,-leads to a suitable vacuum chamber, g. The air is 1, 3 and 6, it will be exhausted from this vacuum chamber by means of the vacuum pump, s, and its pipe 'draw liquid through the filter medium, b, en elements, a, to the interior of the same,

then through' the pipes, f and'f', into the various filtrate chambers, g (Fig. 1), thence through ports, to the interior'of the revolving housing, k, and out through pipes, Z and Z', to the vacuum tank, g. The amount withdrawn is continually made up by the feed at a through the launder. It will thus be seen that if the housing, lc, its projection, m, and air port, z" be revolved during the filtering operation, that one port, z', with its ltrate chamber, g, filter pipes, f and f', and filtering elements attached thereto will be virtually removed from the filtrate system or cut-off, and during this cut-offperiod the vacuum ceases to exist Within the particular system .or group of filter elements attached to the chamber, g, while the balance of systems or groups of elements will be filtering. In some instances this releasing of the vacuum to the atmosphere through the ports or passages, z', e" and p (see Fig. 3), will be sufficient to permit the filtrate in the chamber, g, and in pipes f and f', to rush back through gravity to the interior of the filter elements in question and discharge the same or Sediment adhering to the outside of the same automatically. v In order to aid this'counter-current filtrate action, additional compressed air means may be applied .through a proper pipe, p, and stuffing box, p, (Figs. l and 3), which permits the air-pipe attached to the revolving shaft, n, to revolve with the said shaft. If such additional counter-current pressure be added, it stands to reason that a shock from the same will be periodically transmitted through the pipesor passages, 17,71', and ,to the filtrate contained within the chamber, g, thus resulting in a more thorough cake discharge. The housing, k, with its projection, m and port i', continues to revolve, thus disconnecting one filtrate port after another and discharging the cakes in the various groups of filter elements \one after another until all of the elements in the tank have been cut out one after another, cleansed by counter-current and again brought into the filtrate stage by the projection, m, passing awayfrom the open ends of the various ports, i, which in their turn are connected to this: common filtrate chamber in the housin h Figs.'1 and 3, the shaft, n', is shown connected by means of a coupling, 5, to the revolving housing, la, and its shaft n. n in Fig. l supports and revolves a suitable scraping mechanism herein shown .as comprising radial arms, w, having a series of blades or plows, w operating near the bottom of the tank, C. Thus it Will be seen that the power used for revolving the housing, k, and continuously discharging the sediment from the filter elements, may also be used for revolving a plow-scraper which moves the discharged and settledsediment toward the central opening, in the large tank, C, and this thick mud or sediment may be drawn from the opening, by means of proper valves, and y. -In order that the filter elements with their filtrate pipes, f and f, and chambers, g, and the filtrate collectind piece, j, and the driving mechanism o an o', (Fig. l) ma be t properlyv supported within the tank, suitable supports, 2, 2', are provided and supplied with brackets, l. The outer ends of filtrate pipes, f, are also supported at 4.

In the arrangement disclosed in Fig. l, the Valve housing, c,shafts, n and n', and scraper mechanism lw and w revolve independent of the balance'of the apparatus. I may, however, revolve the plow-mechanism separately from the mechanism that revolves the housing, L". Such an arrangement Would result in running the shaft, n. (See Fig. 6), through the bottom of a proper fitting, 8, from the bottom of the tank, C, with its individual driving mechanism indicated by dotted lines, 6 and 7, in which case the shafts, 'a' and n would be disconnected at 5.I (See Fig. 3.) This vindependent driving of the scraping mechanism, w, and timing or valve-mechanism, lc, might be required in instances Where'the material removed from the tank by the plow orscrap-v ing mechanism, w, w', should revolve faster or slower than does the cake discharge timing mechanism, c.

v-Furthermore, the following construction may be resorted to, if desired. The filter elements, Z), with their filtrate pipes, and f and filtrate chambers, g may all be rotated in the tank iny which case the upper part of the timingk mechanism, otherwise called the housing, 1, remains stationary witlrits atmospheric opening, p'iorair connection, p. In this case the vacuum port, Z," which is shown in the' lower part, of this 1 mechanism, in Fig. 3, would be transferred i to the upper part,r 'f (see Fig. 6), in order that the vaccum line may be held stationary. The lower filtrate collecting piece then revolves together with all filtrate pipes, f/ and f, f', and filtrate elements, Z, and the entire arrangement "may be properly supported, as shown in Fig. 6 at Z', and with tension rods, 4', and bearings, 10, as well as braces, 9, and associated parts. The worm gear drive may be located in the full-line ylao lthe filter elements are submerged during this operation will result in a more thorough cleansing of the said elements of very colloidal or slimy materials." Although I have specifically set forth the particulars of various embodiments in the present invention, yet it will be understood that I d o not desire to limit'myself to the precise construction specified2 but shall feel at liberty at all times to modify the construction to any extent within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For instance, although I have shown an open tank; occasion may arise in handling hot mixtures and solutions wherein gases are liberated where the tank will have to be coveied in order to confine the steam or vapors and prevent heat losses and danger to the existing operators. It may also' be necessary to provide an emergency overflow for surplus unfiltered material resulting from an improper balance. between feed and filtrate removal.

It will be seen from the. foregoing' desci'iption that my invention constitutes a decided improvement over the common decantation systems which depend entirely on a large periphery for the amount of' clear decanted liquor. and also constitutes a direct improvement ou my above cited patent and aforesaid Genfer-Jones application while making use of the cleansing action used i-ii same. It will also be notedtliat natural settling can take place in the present invention and that the naturally settled solids as well as the solids continuously cleansed from the filter elements will be continuously discharged together from the common tank. further provision ismade for regulating the speed at-which the distributing and counter current cleansing mechanism works, thus enabling the operator to vary the amount of thickened material as well as clear filtrate at will.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A 1. A thickening apparatus comprising a tank having a bottom discharge; a sei'ies of filter elements in said tank adapted to be submerged in the liquid contents thereof; means for continuously removing filtrate tion of said filter elements simultaneously with the removal of the filtrate from they first-named elements, and while the second- 'fnamed elements are in a state ofV submergence. Y

2. A thickening apparatus comprising a tank open to the atmosphere, said tank having a discharge in its lower portion; a series of filter elements in said tank adapted to be submerged in the liquid contents thereof; means for continuously removing filtrate from any desired portion of said series of filter elements; and means for producing a cleansing action on any other desired portion of said filter elements simultaneously with the removal of the filtrate from the first-named elements; and while the secondnamed elements are in a state of submergence.y

3l Athickening apparatus comprising a tank having a discharge in its lower portion; groups or series of filter elements in said tank adapted to he submerged in the liquid contents thereof; suction means for continuously removing filtrate from any desired group or portion of vsaid submerged filter elements; and fluid pressure means adapted to connect with the interior of successive filter elements for producing a cleansing action on any other desired group or portion of said filter elements Asimultaneously with the removal of filtrate from the first-named group or portion of filter elements and while the second-named group or portion of said elements is ina state of submergence.

-i. A thickening apparatus. comprising an open ta-nk having a discharge in its lower portion; filter elements arranged in groups or series in said tank and adapted to be submerged'in the liquid. contents of the tank; and means connecting with filter elements for substantially continuously removing filtrate from any desired portion of the series of filter elements simultaneously with the release of diminished pressure on the filtrate side of any other desired portion of the series of `the submergedfilter elements, whereby the hydrostaticv head of the filtrate in the second-named elements is utilized to cleanse the latter.

5. A thickening apparatus comprising an` open tank having a discharge in its lower portion; filter elements arranged in groups orseries in said tank adapted to be submerged in the liquid kcontents of the tank; means connecting with` filter elements for substantially continuously removing filtrate from any desired portion of the groups or series of filter elements simultaneously with the release of diminished pressure on the filtrate side of any other desired portion of the groups or series of the submerged filter elements, whereby the hydrostatic head of the filtrate iii the second-named elements is4 tank adapted-to be submerged in the liquid contents thereof; means for continuously removing filtrate from anydesired portion of' said series of elements; fluid-pressure means for producing a vcleansing act-ion on any other desired portion of said filter 'elements simultaneously with the removal of filtrate.4 from the first-named portion of the elements and while the second-named portion of said elements is 1n a state of submergence; and means for relatively rotating the tank and filter elements to thereby assist the cleansing of the elements.

7. In thickening apparatus, the combination of a tank -having a discharge in its lower portion; a seriesofpendant filter elements in said tank adapted to be maintained continuously in submergence in the liquid contents thereof; means for producing a cleansing action on the filter elements during submergence; a filtrate receiver common to the filter elements and filtrate conductors connecting the receiver and said elements; and a distributing housing or timing piece forming a part of the receiver and having a port adapted `to register withsuccessive filtrate conductors.

8. In thickening apparatus, the combination of a tank having a discharge in its lower portion; a series of pendant filter elements in said tank adapted to be maintained continuously in siibmergence in the liquid contents thereof; means for producing a cleansing action on the filter elements during submergence; filtrate conductors from said elements; filtrate chambers with which the conductors connect; and a filtrate receiver common to all of the filtrate chambers, said receiver having a filtrate outlet and a movable part provided with a port or passage to successively register with the ltrate chambers;

and an exhausting means connecting with the outlet of'said receiver.

9. In thickening apparatus, the combinai tion of a tank having a discharge in its lower portion; a series of pendant filter elements in said tank adapted to be maintainedcontinuously in submergence in the liquid contents thereof. means for producing a.

ing a filtrate outlet, said receiver having a movablepart provided with a separate vport or passage adapted to successivelyv register with filtrate passages vin thel other part of said receiver; means for inovingrone part of the receiver relatively to the other; and an exhausting4 means connecting with the filtrate outlet of said receiver. y

l0. In thickening apparatus, the combination of a tank having a discharge in its lower portion; a series of pendant filter elements in said tank adapted to be maintained continuously iii submergence inthe liquid contents thereof; means for. producing a cleansing action on the filter elements during submergence; horizontal, radially-disposed pipesfin said tank having nipples on their under sides; means for attaching .the upper ends of the filter elements to said nipples; filtrate chambers, one for each of said pipes; a filtrate receiver common to all of said chambers, said receiver having a fil` trate outlet and a series ot' ports each of which connects with one of' said chambers, said receiver comprising a movable housing or part provided with a port or passage to f successively register with ports in the companion part; and an exhausting means connecting with the filtrate outlet of said receiver.

11. In thickening apparatus, the combination of a tank having a discharge in its lower portion; a series of pendant #filter elements in said tank adapted to be maintained continuously in siibmergence in the liquid contents thereof; means for producing a cleansing action on the filter elements during submergence; horizontal, radially-disposed pipes in said tank having nipples on their under sides; means for attaching the upper ends of the filter elements to said nipples; filtrate chambers, one for each of said pipes: a filtrate receiver common to all of said v'liambers, said receiver having a filtrate outlet and a series of ports each of which connects with one of said chambers, said receiver comprising a movable part or housing provided with aport or passage to successively register with ports in the companion part; an exhausting means connecting with the filtrate outlet of' said receiver.

12. In thickening apparatus, the combination of a tank having a discharge in its lower portion: series or groups of filter-elements vertically-disposed in said tank; ra.- dially-disposed pipes forming supports for said filter-elements and as conductors for filtrate passing-through the elements; means connecting with said filtrate conductors and forming a filtrate receiver common thereto, said receiver comprising a fixed and a movable part. said fixed part having ports corresponding to the filtrate conductors and having a final filtrate outlet. and said niorable part of' the receiver having a port or passage adapted to successively register with the filtrate ports of the companion part ofthe receiver; means for rotating one of said parts of the receiver relatively to the other; means for admitting fluid-pressure into the movable portion of the receiver, whereby a cleansing current passes through the receiver and filtrate passages to the interior of any desired portion of' the series of filter elements and dislodges solids therefrom simultaneously with the continuous removal of filtrate from any other desired portion of the series of filter elements.

13. Thickening apparatus comprising ya tank, series or groups of filter elements suspended in the tank, conductors leading filtrate from said elements, a filtrate receiver said receiver having a filtrate outlet, exhausting means connecting with the filtrate outlet and operating to continuously remove filtrate from any desired portion of the series of filter elements; means for directing tinuously removing filtrate from any desired portion of said series of filter elements;V and means for producing a cleansing action on any other desired portion of said filter elements simultaneously with the removal of the filtrate from the first named elements. y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALBERT LEGRAND GENTER. 

